DOROTHY BEHAN Age 87, passed away on the evening of May 19, 2012. Dorothy was born to Agnes and Francis Behan, the eldest of their two children. She is survived by her two children, David Johnston and Julie Groneman, and two grandchildren, Tara and Ian Groneman. She is preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Bill Johnston, and her brother, Francis Behan Jr. Dorothy grew up on a farm near Sabula, Iowa with her parents and younger brother, Bud. She loved to tell stories about her life on the farm and how she used to ride a horse to school. Dorothy took school very seriously and graduated high school as Salutatorian. Her parents, very progressive and forward thinking, thought that she ought to go to college so that she would never have to depend on anyone for her living. So after high school, Dorothy enrolled at Iowa State University, where she received her bachelor's degree in Child Development with a minor in Chemistry. During WWII, Iowa State was used to house recruits in transit and there she met her future husband, a Navy recruit on his way to Florida. They were engaged after two weeks and she moved down to Florida and got a job in a dime store to be closer to him. When the war ended, she and her husband, Bill, moved to Bozeman, Montana. Dorothy ran the nursery school at Montana State University while Bill finished his Master's and Ph.D. coursework, a job that allowed her to provide for the household and still look after their two young children, David and Julie. Bill soon got a job working for the AEC and the family had to move around a lot. They lived in Idaho Falls, Maryland, and then finally moved to Albuquerque in 1963, where they stayed. Dorothy left her job at the nursery school and became a full-time wife and homemaker who volunteered with the Girl Scouts, PEO, and various church organizations. Dorothy was a sharp, opinionated, but very proper lady who loved to host Bridge games and work crosswords and puzzles. She was a warm, caring wife, mother and grandmother who gave her full help and support to those she was closest to. She continued to volunteer for PEO and her church groups into her early 70s. She liked to garden and sew and was fond of attending the Santa Fe Opera and musicals at Popejoy Hall with her husband, daughter, and grandchildren. She liked traveling and spent much of her golden years with her husband out at their cabin near Bluewater Lake. Dorothy was dearly loved by her family and friends and is sorely missed. To view information or leave a condolence please visit www.danielsfuneral.com Daniels Family Funeral Services 4310 Sara Road SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124 505-892-9920
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